THIS IS AMERICA - Dating

THIS IS AMERICA - Dating
By Jerilyn Watson

Broadcast: Monday, February 16, 2004

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Welcome to THIS IS AMERICA, in VOA Special English. I'm Steve Ember.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Phoebe Zimmermann. Our show this week is about the search for love. Join us as we explore dating in America!

(MUSIC)

 
Valentine's Day
VOICE ONE:

Another February fourteenth, Valentine's Day, has come and gone. Millions of people received flowers and chocolate, or some other gift, or even just a telephone call from someone they care about. Valentine's Day is a special time for love.

People who follow old traditions have a second chance at the end of this month. A tradition says February twenty-ninth, Leap¹ Year Day, is the one day a woman may ask a man to marry her.

But a lot of people are not even close to that point. They would be happy just to find someone to date.

VOICE TWO:

In the past, young people in America usually lived with their parents until they got married. Some still do. But, in general, young people have grown more independent. They wait longer to get married. Even then, they still have to find the right person.

There are many ways for people to meet. Some meet at work. Others meet by chance. Still others seek help from businesses that try to bring people together.

VOICE ONE:

Friends and family members might offer to help. Often a friend will plan a "blind date." This is meeting between two people who have never seen each other before. The friend thinks the two people will like each other. They might. Or they might never want to see each other again.

Usually, though, single people have to make their own plans. Some might go to a dance place, for example, and hope to meet someone they can ask out on a date. Some places are popular with young people. Others are for older people. But this kind of life is not for everyone.

VOICE TWO:

Dating and establishing a relationship can be hard work. So a lot of people want to go where they are sure they can meet people with similar interests. They might look for someone who shares a common interest in religion or books, for example. A lot of bookstores in America now have places that serve coffee and food. Many offer special programs and social activities for single people.

Singles may join health clubs, or sports teams -- or maybe even a group for people who like to take long walks in the woods. If nothing else, at least they will have gotten some exercise.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Some Americans use dating services, which help people choose a person they might like. For example, a company called Great Expectations has been helping² to bring people together for almost thirty years. Great Expectations started in San Francisco, California³. The company organizes events in more than fifty places in the United⁴ States for people to meet.

Another company is called Brief Encounters⁵. It serves people in several states and Washington⁶, D.C. The name describes what the company does. Brief Encounters organizes events that provide very quick introductions⁷ for small groups of people. Men and women meet and get only three to six minutes to introduce themselves.

VOICE TWO:

Two people sit across from each other at a table. They talk until a bell rings. Then everyone meets a new person. People write their reactions on paper. They write the names of the people they liked best. Then they give these notes to an employee⁸ of Brief Encounters. Within forty-eight hours, the people who took part receive the names and telephone numbers of the people who liked them.

A program called SpeedDating also provides fast introductions for singles. Many young people are in a room. Two people meet and talk for seven minutes. Then they meet and talk to others. The SpeedDating program began in Los Angeles, California, at a Jewish⁹ educational center. It is one of a number of dating services operated by religious¹⁰ organizations.

VOICE ONE:

But some people do not like making hurried choices. A young woman in Chicago, Illinois, says nobody can make an intelligent choice under those conditions. But others praise this method. They say it is a way to avoid long hours with someone who is not very interesting.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Many American newspapers and magazines publish messages from people who are seeking someone to date. The messages are called "personal want ads" or "personals." This is the usual kind of message in a personal ad: "Nice looking woman, thirty years old, thin, athletic¹¹, successful, great cook, desires long-term¹² relationship."

VOICE ONE:

Men who want to meet this woman write to the newspaper or magazine. They describe themselves and their interests. The woman then reads the letters and decides if she wants to meet any of them.

There are also telephone services. A person calls and records a message. For example, a man describes himself and the kind of woman he hopes to meet. He describes what kind of relationship he would like.

Other people call and listen to the messages. If they hear one they like, they leave their own message. Once two people talk to each other directly¹³, they might or might not decide to meet in person.

Telephone dating services have led to video dating services. People go on camera and record a message about themselves. Then they wait until someone likes what they see.

(MUSIC)

 
Graphic¹⁴ Image
VOICE TWO:

Some cities in America have restaurants where people hope to find more than just good food. A place called Drip¹⁵ opened in New York City in nineteen-ninety-six. It started with the idea to have people write down answers to a series¹⁶ of questions about themselves. Other people then read the answers. If someone likes what they read, an employee sets up a date.

Now there is a Web¹⁷ site, Drip.com. People are directed¹⁸ to a DateCafe where an employee tries to set them up on a date.

VOICE ONE:

This is just one of the dating services on the Internet. A business called Match.com is a leader in the area of online matchmaking. Members can get lists of people around their age who live nearby. Some people identify themselves and even include pictures. Others do not. The goal is for people to get to know each other through electronic¹⁹ mail. Then, they can decide to meet and date.

Match.com began in nineteen-ninety-five. It says many of its members have married or formed close relationships. One example is a teacher in the Washington, D.C., area whose marriage ended a few years ago. She had not dated much until she met a computer expert through Match-dot-com.

VOICE TWO:

A lot of people search for love online. People usually start by communicating with strangers. Sometimes the strangers become friends. They might decide to meet. Then they might decide to date. They may even decide to get married.

But there are risks anytime strangers meet. There have been stories in the news about people killed by others they met over the Internet. That is not the only risk. People may lie about themselves or leave out details. Some people find that the person they met over the Internet is already married.

VOICE ONE:

However they meet, when single people finally get together, what do they do on a date? People of all ages do many of the same things. They go out to eat. Or they go dancing. They go for walks. Or they go to movies, museums or concerts. Couples might play sports together. Or they might just spend the evening watching television.

VOICE TWO:

Dating is the traditional first step toward²⁰ marriage. But many young Americans no longer feel in as much of a hurry to get married as in the past. They want to finish their education and establish themselves in a profession first.

Other people are ready to settle²¹ down and start a family. They want to meet someone and fall in love. There are more ways to meet other people today. Yet some say it is harder than ever to find the right person. So they keep dating, and hoping.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Our program was written by Jerilyn Watson and produced by Caty Weaver²². I'm Steve Ember.

VOICE ONE:

And I'm Phoebe Zimmermann. Join us again next week for another report about life in the United States on the VOA Special English program, THIS IS AMERICA.

(MUSIC)

1 leap   

n.跳跃，飞跃，跃进；vi.跳跃，跳过；猛然行动，迅速行动；vt.跃过，使跃过

参考例句：

• In the last few years,this art has made a big leap.近几年来，这一艺术有了新的跃进。
• Her marriage to John was a leap in the dark.她与约翰结婚是贸然行动。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 California   

n.加利福尼亚(美国)

参考例句：

• He was elected governor of the state of California.他当选为加州州长。
• We were driving on a California freeway.我们正沿着加利福尼亚的一条快车道驾车行驶。

4 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

5 encounters   

遭遇战( encounter的名词复数 )； [天文学]（向着某一天体的）接近； 突然遇到

参考例句：

• Encounters of like charges act to diminish the coagulation rate. 同性带电粒子间的碰撞作用减少凝聚率。
• At each stage of development the trematode encounters formidable hazards. 吸虫在发育的每一个阶段，都可能遭遇到极大的风险。

6 Washington   

n.华盛顿特区(是美国首都)

参考例句：

• His birthplace is Washington,but he lives in San Francisco.他出生于华盛顿，但住在旧金山。
• They, together with my father,have gone to Washington.他们和我父亲一起去华盛顿了。

7 introductions   

n.介绍( introduction的名词复数 )；引言；引进；新采用的东西

参考例句：

• With a smile, he makes introductions all round. 他微笑着将在场的人一一作了介绍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This book has a superfluity of introductions and summaries. 此本书中有多余的介绍和摘要。 来自辞典例句

8 employee   

n.职员，员工，受雇人员

参考例句：

• Each employee received a like bonus.每个雇员都得到了相同数目的奖金。
• They brought around a new employee this morning.他们今天早晨请来了一位新雇员。

9 Jewish   

adj.犹太人的，犹太民族的

参考例句：

• The coin bears a Jewish symbol.硬币上有犹太标记。
• They were two Jewish kids;I was friendly with both of them.他们是两个犹太小孩；我同他们都很要好。

10 religious   

adj.宗教性的，虔诚的，宗教上的；n.修道士，出家人

参考例句：

• She is very religious person who goes to church every Sunday.她十分虔诚，每个星期天都上教堂。
• It is hard for me to reject religious beliefs.要我抛弃自己的宗教信仰是困难的。

11 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

12 long-term   

adj.长远的，长期的

参考例句：

• It isn't a long-term policy.这不是长久之计。
• We must calculate on a long-term basis.我们要作长期打算。

13 directly   

adv.直接地，径直地；马上，立即

参考例句：

• I will telephone you directly I hear the news.我一听到消息，马上打电话给你。
• She answered me very directly and openly.她非常坦率地、开门见山地答复了我。

14 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

15 drip   

n.滴，点滴；水滴；乏味的人；v.滴下，漏水

参考例句：

• I hate this sort of drip.我讨厌这种无聊的闲话。
• A drip of water fell from the tap.从龙头滴下一滴水。

16 series   

n.连续；系列

参考例句：

• The students have put forward a series of questions.学生们提出了一系列问题。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

17 web   

n.网，蛛丝，蹼，织物，圈套，卷筒纸；vi.生蹼，形成网；vt.织蜘蛛网于，使落入圈套

参考例句：

• The spider weaves a web.蜘蛛织网。
• You mean the World Wide Web?你是说国际互联网？

18 directed   

adj.有指导的；有管理的；定向的；被控制的v.（用建议、指示、有益的情报等）指导( direct的过去式和过去分词 )；导演（戏剧或电影）；指示方向；把…对准（某方向或某人）

参考例句：

• The firemen directed jets of water at the burning building. 消防队员把水柱喷向燃烧着的楼房。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The general directed that the prisoners should be set free. 将军命令释放囚犯。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 electronic   

adj.电子的；n.[-s]电子学，电子设备

参考例句：

• It is an electronic device with many uses.这是一部具有多种用途的电子仪器。
• Father needs a new electronic shaver.爸爸需要一个新的电子剃须刀。

20 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

21 settle   

vi.安家；定居；停留；vt.使定居；安排；解决

参考例句：

• I have to settle my affairs before leaving here.离开这儿以前，我得把一些私人的事情安排妥当。
• She has decided how she should settle the matter.她已做出决定如何来了解这件事。

22 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。